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Tutorial 1
The standard tutorial for learning MPanel, as shipped on demo
CD’s. Consists of a starter drawing, with prototype
structures, a MS Word document to describe the operations
needed to complete the drawing, and a copy of the finished
drawing.
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Tutorial 2
A more in depth look at creating a cone tent, this web page
walks you through the design process for developing a cone tent,
covering mesh density selection, stress effects and compensation
of the finished panels for production.
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Tutorial 3
Creating geodesic seams on a saddle tent. Geodesic seams are
often used to minimize seam lengths and create substantially
rectangular panels. MPanel can create geodesic seams from any
boundary points over any number of meshes, and can then turn
the seam lines into a new mesh, to ease paneling.
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to download |
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Tutorial 4
Shows double mesh being used to refine a cone tent. Double Mesh
can be a great time saver, allowing the initial design to be
roughed out with very coarse meshes that require little construction
time and allow MPanel to relax the forms quickly. When the design
is further along the meshes can be increased in density and
then re-relaxed, to obtain a high definition drawing.
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to download |
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Tutorial 5
Looks at the issues involved in merging panels, and shows how
the shearing error occurs. Merging is a powerful technique for
joining panels together and achieving panel end curvature, but
it has implications in the way the fabric stress relaxes that
need to be understood. This drawing illustrates those issues
for a simple hoop structure.
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Tutorial 6
Creates a set of panels running diagonally on a square sail.
Diagonal seams are required for aesthetic or structural reasons,
and MPanel can create them nicely, although there are difficulties
with the corner triangular panels. This drawing illustrates
the process.
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to download |
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Tutorial 7
Looks at the problems of adjusting the droop of a square sail
with high/low points. There is a peculiarity of an exactly square
sail on a symmetrical frame, that adjusting the weft/warp ratio
does not adjust the droop of the sail. This drawing explains
that issue, and offers a solution to the problem.
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Tutorial 8
Creating an awning cover with some double curvature on a half
dome. Framed structures, which are sometimes made without double
curvature, benefit in strength and rigidity if they are designed
with double curvature. This drawing illustrates working over
a simple entry way awning.
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Tutorial 9
The method of modeling using a single sheet over several constraints.
This was an earlier modeling technique, used before the capability
to relax multiple meshes arrived. For some fabric shapes it
is difficult to think of a reasonable multiple set of meshes
to define the structure, and so this drawing details the old
method.
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Tutorial 10
Illustrates the methods used to divide a mesh into different
coloured areas, both for paneling and visualization meshes.
Can be used as a generic tutorial on cross sections and rebuilding
mesh's from 3D polylines.
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Tutorial 11
Shows a method used to block cut a simple icon into a mesh,
which will be created in a contrasting colour.
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Tutorial
12
How to use embedded cables to carry some of the loads in a cone
tent design.
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Tutorial 13
How to design a modular structure, so that you can add any number
of central sections to create different length designs.
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Tutorial 14
Illustrates the method to find the natural top ring position
and pole angle for a cone tent. Uses a structure of links to
allow top ring to relax to it’s natural position.
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to download |
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